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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Animals that Say Hi

So, okay. I probably haven't mentioned this here before, but I'm a bit of an embroidery dabbler. It's a little side activity I enjoy, mostly because it frees me from the perfectionism of sewing. For whatever reason, I just don't feel the same need to be meticulous which—sometimes—can be a very refreshing thing.

For the past couple years, I've slowly been stitching away at a kind of bizarre goal: I want a whole wall full of embroidered animals that say hi. It started with this little bird. (Taken from a Sublime Stitching pattern, and then embellished with hand lettering, as all of my little creatures are.)

A monkey came next. Embroidering the type is the hardest part!

This hedgehog greets you cordially.

As does this blue squirrel.

The Tiki god is a little more intimidating, and not technically an animal.

Jeff and I just hung these up in the entrance way, which seemed an appropriate place. Between you and me, it's my life's goal to have a full hallway of these little creatures by the time I'm an eccentric old woman.

Thats such an adorable idea!! I love doing embroidery, I find it so relaxing. I love just practising new stitches too.I haven't done any embroidery in a while, you've made me remember how much I enjoy it. Thanks :) Ashley x

How cute! Just one or two might be a bit weird, an entire wall will be eccentric and fun =)

I couldn't agree more, a "side-kick" craft that is without demands or expectations is a great way to relax! Instead of embroidery I weave lace, so much fun =) A small example: http://swinginvintage.blogspot.com/2010/02/lace-mania.html

I love embroidery as well, though it does play second (third) fiddle to knitting and sewing. You can put so much fun and whimsy into embroidery. Like your hi animals! What a fantastic long-term project. Love it.

SO cute!!!They're all adorable, but the squirrel is definitely my favorite!I have just started to embroider after getting some books about it for Christmas, and I really love it. I love the rhythms of the needle going in and out...it's very relaxing and therapeutic...

It's just one more reason to love you, Gertie! I have stitched the monkey and the bird, too, from Sublime Stitching and just love them. However, the idea of a wall of animals saying hello is turning the awesome up to 11! Good work1

That is so awesome, how cute to be greeted like that coming home after a long day. Ive been having some embrodierystuff laying around for months, while trying to figure out what to do, cant think of anything else than old pixle games, but that idea is so old.

That's it! I'm working on drawing up an embroidery pattern right now for someone specific, which involves an octopus and some words and... that's really all I can say. Still, I wanted to release a more general version (ie: less specific words), but couldn't come up with what the octopus should say. I think "Hello!" will be lovely, though!

Sublime Stitching is fantastic. I'm also a big fan of Sew Lovely Embroidery patterns ( http://sewlovelyembroidery.com/ ), and I'm even trying to start printing my own patterns as iron-on transfers.

haha these are adorable!! i love embroidery, but i don't mess with it nearly enough bc i can never figure out what to do with the finished product (too much stuff hanging on my walls to justify *another* wall hanging, for the most part). but it sure is fun :) and so portable!

This seriously just tickles me! Ha ha ha! I love it! One of the best things will be when you finally give one away to a most beloved grandchild or niece (when you are much older, of course). Oh how they will treasure it and think how wonderful it would be to have their own wall of "hello" animals. Seriously cute!

OMG cats! This embroidery hobby if yours is cracking me up! I too have succumbed to the charms of Sublime Stitching embroidery patterns a few years ago (as in, bought a bunch of embroidery floss and patterns and a super cute embroidery kit), but it never materialized in anything more than a couple of embroidered cats (as in 2 out of planned 4) on a kitchen towel. Now, I am inspired! I think my theme can be just cats with LOLCat sayings. Well, and maybe monkeys (just because I love monkeys...)

I'm an embroiderer in my "free" time, too! I really like your hedgehog - I've always wanted one as a pet! Most of my embroidery ends up on dresses and coats for my 3 girls, who are starting to be past the age of appreciating embroidery.... Time to look for new things to keep my needle busy. I'm intrigued by stumpwork. Is that something you've tried?